Art-stage.



S. MORRISON & F. H. FITCH.

ART STAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1916. 1,215,962. Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

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S. MORRISON & F. H. FITCH.

ART STAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. I916.

1,215,962., Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

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WITNESSES:

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ETNTTE @TATES SEYMOUR MORRISON AND FLORENCE I-I. FITCH, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ART-STAGE.

' Application filed May 6, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SEYMOUR MORRISON and FLoRENcn H. FITOH, citizens of the United States, and residents of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Art-Stage; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to provide a cheap and useful form of art stage for school children. It is to be used in the instruction of art in the public schools and to be satisfactory it must be made of paper board in knock-down condition, or fiat, so that it can be readily shipped and packed in large numbers and easily handled in distribution among the schools of the city and among the school children, and at the same time the cost must be easily within the reach of the children.

Therefore the chief feature of this invention consists in making an art stage in knock-down form and so that it can be readily set up by the children and will be rather firm and strong after it is set up so that it will be durable enough to accom-' plish the desired object in art instruction. In actual use the children decorate the stage and also place on it and in it various figures representing actors.

In the second place, one feature of the invention is to make such a stage with a satisfactory proscenium which is readily put in place and will form the front part of'the structure in such a way as to give it an at tractive appearance, and also rigidity and strength and reinforce the bottom, top, and side walls of the structure.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from .the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the art stage. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank with which the main portion of the art stage is constructed. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the stage. Fig. 4 is a vertical section about midway through the stage. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the stage, parts being shown by dotted lines.

proscenium.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917..

Serial No. 95,833.

This art stage consists of two parts, the main part of the stage and proscenium. The blank for the main part of the stage is shown in Fig. 2 and consists of paper board with the back of the stage 10 outlined by the score lines 11, 12, and 13. End sections 14 extend from the score lines 12, and'each end section has a flange 15 formed by a score line 16, so that said fiange will project laterally for securing thereon the ends of the proscenium. The bottom 17 extends from the score lines 13 and at each lateral end has a flap 18 connected by a score line 19. The flaps 18 are severed from the ends or wing walls 14 along the line 20.

The top 21 is connected at the score line 11 to the body or back, and it has a top flange 22 separated by the score line 23. At each end of the top there is a flap 24 con nected therewith at the score line 25 and severed from the ends or wings 14 along the line 26. The flaps 24 are similar to the flaps 18 and the score lines 19 and 25 extend at an inclination as shown in order to make the end or wing walls of the stage incline from front to rear.

The main part of the stage is formed from said blank by bending the bottom 17 and top 21 into horizontal positions with the back 10, vertical. The ends or wings 14 are then bent inward to the inclined position shown in Fig. 1 and in line with the score lines 19 and 25. These end walls 14 are reinforced as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 by added strips or boards 27 which are secured thereto by the metal fasteners or brads 28 as shown in Fig. 5. These fasteners are located away from the upper and lower ends as shown in Fig. 5, so as to leave pockets between the end walls 14 and the reinforc ing strips 27 into which the flaps 18 and 24 are inserted vertically in assembling the device. The flaps 18 and 24, therefore, wedge into their places tightly because the fasteners 28 secure the reinforcing strips 27 tightly to the ends 14 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. However, to more permanently secure the flaps 18 and 24 to the ends 14, said flaps have punched out tongues 29 adapted to be inserted through corresponding openings 30 in the reinforcing strips 27. This will make a very strong union between said parts.

When the body of the stage is thus arranged, the end flanges 15 and top flange 22 are bent outwardly and upwardly to receive the proscenium frame or structure 35, as shown in Fig. 1. This structure is formed from paper board as shown in Fig. 6. It is U-shaped so as to form the sides and top of the front of the stage and is scored along the line 36 throughout its length so as to form lateral members 37 and a top member 38 with the corners at 39 cut away, so that said members 37 and 38 may be folded 1o against the main body of the proscenium 35 and secured along the edges thereto by fasteners 10. The width of the members 37 and 38 is somewhat less than the remainder or body of the proscenium so that the proscenium in'cross section consists of a front and rear portion as shown in Fig. 4, also Fig. 3, united at the top but separated along the inner edges to form a continuous pocket all around to fit over and receive the flanges 15 and 22 of the body of the stage. When the proscenium is wedged down into place so as to envelop these flanges 15 and 22, it will bind all the parts firmly into place and give rigidity to the structure and make an 25 attractive proscenium or front to the stage.

The bottom 17 of the stage is wider than the top, so as to project to the front as shown in Fig. 3 and likewise its ends are projected to furnish a base for the ends of the proscenium, said end projection being indicated at 41 and extending rearward somewhat as shown.

From the foregoing it is seen that said art stage is cheaply formed from two sheets of paper board, suitably cut and scored so that the same can be readily packed in compact form for shipment and handling, and the stage can be quickly assembled by the child into the form shown in Fig. 1, and if desired, as quickly separated and knocked down and stored away for future use. The wings 14: are inclined as shown so as to add to the appearance of the stage and the proscenium builds up the ends and top of the front of the stage so as to make it look like a real stage. The floor is wide enough to furnish ample stage roomfor the characters which are located thereon and slits 1-2 are made in the bottom of the stage for securing paper figures or. the like in place thereon. Both the rear and wing walls can be decorated and likewise the proscenium with suitable water colors, or other treatment.

We claim as our invention:

'1. An art stage formed of a main portion having at the front thereof lateral and vertical flanges and a proscenium formed of paper board adapted to fit on and envelop said flanges and be held thereby in place.

2. An art stage consisting of a main portion formed of paper board cut and scored so as to form the walls of the stage, the front part of the end and top walls having laterally and upwardly extending flanges,

and a proscenium formed of paper board with the top portion having downwardly extending end portions scored longitudinally thereof so that the two parts can be folded against each other, and fasteners for securing the front and back walls of the pro- 7 scenium together so as to leave a continuous so as to form the walls of the stage, the front part of the end and top walls having later= ally and upwardly extending flanges, and a so proscenium formed of paper board with the top portion having downwardly extending end portions scored longitudinally thereof 7 so that the two parts can be folded against 7 each other, and fasteners for securing the front and back walls of the proscenium together so as to leave a continuous pocket around the inner edge of the proscenium to receive and envelop said flanges on the main portion of the stage and be frictionally held thereon, the rear wall of the proscenium being narrower than the front wall thereof.

4:. An art stage consisting of a main portion formed of paper board cut and scored so as to form the walls of the stage, the front part of the end and top walls having laterally and upwardly extending flanges, and a proscenium formed of paper board with the top portion having downwardly extending end portions scored longitudinally 10c thereof so that the two parts can be folded against each other, and fasteners for securing the front and back walls of the proscenium together so as to leave a continuous pocket around the inner edge of the proscenium to receive and envelop said flanges on the main portion of the stage and be frictionally held thereon, the main portion of the stage having the bottom thereof made wider than the top portion thereof so that the bottom will projectto the front beyond the proscenium. V

5. An art stage consisting of a main portion formed of paper board cut and scored so as to form the walls of the stage, the front part of the end and top walls having laterally and upwardly extending flanges, and a proscenium formed of paper board with the top portion having downwardly extending end portions scored longitudinally thereof 126 so that the two parts can be folded against each other, and fasteners for securing the front and back Walls of proscenium together so as to leave a continuous pocket around the inner edge of the proscenium to receive and envelop said flanges on the main portion of the stage and be frictionally held thereon. the main portion of the stage having the bottom thereof made wider than the top portion thereof so that the bottom will project to the 130 front beyond the proscenium, said bottom having extensions at each end to furnish a base for the ends of the proscenium.

6. An art stage composed of a main portion formed from a flat sheet of paper board scored to provide in the'center part thereof a rear wall for the stage, a top connected with said rear wall along a score line, a bottom connected with said rear wall along the score line and being wider than the top, end walls connected with said rear wall by score lines, flanges along the edges of the top and end walls flexibly connected by score lines, flaps connected with each end of the top and bottom by score lines, said flaps being severed from the end Walls, means for securing the flaps to the end walls when the parts are folded in the stage position and a proscenium made of paper board adapted to wedge and fit over the flanges on the top and ends, substantially as set forth.

7. An art stage composed of a main portion formed from a flat sheet of paper board scored to provide in the center part thereof a rear wall for the stage, a top connected with said rear wall along a score line, a bottom connected with said rear wall along the score line and being wider than the top, end walls connected with said rear wall by score lines, flanges along the edges of the top and end walls flexibly connected by score lines, flaps connected with each end of the top and bottom by score lines, said flaps being severed from the end walls, reinforcing strips secured between their ends to the end walls so that the flaps will wedge in between them and the end walls, tongues punched out of the flaps and openings made in the reinforcing strips through which said tongues may extend and a proscenium made of paper board adapted to Wedge and fit over the flanges on the top and ends, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

SEYMOUR MORRISON. FLORENCE H. FITCH.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

